New Arcit Cat owner checking in!

[Dogmeat]

New Arctic Cat owner checking in!

Welp, I jumped ship.

I got a pretty good deal on a brand new 2009 M8 162" SnoPro today, so I pulled the trigger.

Picked it up this morning, took it up and buzzed it around the roads ... not enough snow to really do anything yet.

Seems to be a solid sled .... and I'm pretty much planning on leaving it bone-stock for all practical purposes. No major engine modifications at all, at the MOST I will do like a pipe, can, air intake, some vents, then get it clutched and geared right ..

Soooooooooooooooo what this means is, I have to start learning a whole new sled. I've had my nose burried in 900 RMK technobabble so deep the last 3 years I dont know how to crawl out. This is the first Cat I've ever owned, but so far I'm pretty impressed with it.

It looks to me like it's a lot easier to work on than the IQ's where to be sure...

So anyways, got some questions:

1.) What clutching and gearing combinations is everyone having good luck with on these sleds for 8,000-10,000 feet?

2.) Who makes side panel vents that have prefilter material on them with good cutting templates?

3.) Can I add a 2" riser block to the telescoping riser without adding more cables?

4.) Who makes a good gas can/rack setup for these sleds?

5.) Any recomendations for skis other than Powder Pros? I pretty much think that's the first thing I'm gonna do is junk the stock skis ... they're some darty sum*****es....

6.) Recomend me anything else I might need this year

 

[Frostbite]

Welcome! I came over from Yamaha last Spring as well.

To answer your questions very briefly.


1.) What clutching and gearing combinations is everyone having good luck with on these sleds for 8,000-10,000 feet?

On M8s the stock gearing is just about perfect. The M1000 guys seem to drop theirs a bit. Clutching, it seems a lot simpler on Cats than Yamaha's. You will want a shift assist kit for the secondary ($20) and some Rock Rollers.

2.) Who makes side panel vents that have prefilter material on them with good cutting templates?

I think mine a Too Cool but, I may be mistaken. There are plenty of options there and they very nice.

3.) Can I add a 2" riser block to the telescoping riser without adding more cables?

Yup, add an AMP 2" riser. It raises your bars 2" and also moves the bars forward 1 1/2" to keep them out of your lap.

4.) Who makes a good gas can/rack setup for these sleds?

You'll want the Mountain Addiction rack. Super nice and right around $100.

5.) Any recomendations for skis other than Powder Pros? I pretty much think that's the first thing I'm gonna do is junk the stock skis ... they're some darty sum*****es....

Powder Pros or MODS from what I have read.

6.) Recomend me anything else I might need this year

Look at the 2010 Arctic Cat accesory catalog online, there are a lot of things you'll want. Fox Float Guards, Snow deflectors to keep the snow from being thrown onto the foot boards, A Boss seat for $369 or a 2010 Cat seat for $240 something, the cat handlebar bag is nice to have, knee pads, SLP Single pipe kit, etc, etc

Good Luck and welcome

 

[Powder Buster]

Congratulations!

If you haven't already done so, you should check out this thread about a bearing issue in the diamond drive. Not fun to have to "fix" your brand new sled, but you should have plenty of experience after your 900!! If this link doesn't work, it's titled "2009 Diamond Drive Bearing Failure"

https://www.snowest.com/new/xfblank/threads/151644/

 

[KSH]

Unless you ride where there is no rocks, I would consider the Heavy Duty belly pan.

Ride the sled before you decide on any mods. The sled is going to feel really different from the 900.

 

[80arrow]

Get the goggle bag for under the hood.

 

[WYrider]

Welcome to the cat side. Once you get on the 09 cat you will be want to get rid of that 900 as soon as possible. I as well come from a good running 900 RMK that was far from stock. Thought it was a great sled and didnt believe the hype of the 900s. Then I rode an 09 cat and they just flat out work. Now Im on a 010 cat and works so much better than the 900 and I didnt have to put $5000 of extras into it.

 

[dragon12]

From what I have read, if you have to add a fuel controller when you add the pipe, y-pipe and can, stay away from boondocker boxes.

 

[M.M. 700]

4.) Who makes a good gas can/rack setup for these sleds? Arctic Cat has a gas rack that is at a good price.
PM "FreeAgent" for almost anything you need at a great price/customer service.

6.) Recomend me anything else I might need this year.Check you oil pump to see if it is sticking, there is a thread on this issue

good luck

 

[MUZBOMB]

Hey congrads!!! I have a shift assist and hard rock rollers on my 09 and they are cheap mod for what you get out of it. Go with the shift assist and rock rollers, AMP 2" riser works awesome and tills the bars forward, get a Boss seat, Can, Y pipe, and I have Mo-Flow vents which are awesome vents and quality made(they have pre-filter too). I have a Cat gas rack it was cheap and works great. All these aren't major mods, but i would do these mods and ride it for a year and see yourself what you think needs to be better and get the feel for it.

 

[crix]

Welp, I jumped ship.

I got a pretty good deal on a brand new 2009 M8 162" SnoPro today, so I pulled the trigger.

Picked it up this morning, took it up and buzzed it around the roads ... not enough snow to really do anything yet.

Seems to be a solid sled .... and I'm pretty much planning on leaving it bone-stock for all practical purposes. No major engine modifications at all, at the MOST I will do like a pipe, can, air intake, some vents, then get it clutched and geared right ..

Soooooooooooooooo what this means is, I have to start learning a whole new sled. I've had my nose burried in 900 RMK technobabble so deep the last 3 years I dont know how to crawl out. This is the first Cat I've ever owned, but so far I'm pretty impressed with it.

It looks to me like it's a lot easier to work on than the IQ's where to be sure...

So anyways, got some questions:

1.) What clutching and gearing combinations is everyone having good luck with on these sleds for 8,000-10,000 feet?

2.) Who makes side panel vents that have prefilter material on them with good cutting templates?

3.) Can I add a 2" riser block to the telescoping riser without adding more cables?

4.) Who makes a good gas can/rack setup for these sleds?

5.) Any recomendations for skis other than Powder Pros? I pretty much think that's the first thing I'm gonna do is junk the stock skis ... they're some darty sum*****es....

6.) Recomend me anything else I might need this year

Nice work dog It looks like alot of us old 900 owners have made our way to cat!!! I also bought a brand new 09 m8 but a std. not a sno pro

I found cat great with supplying extra cable. I dont have the telescoping handlebars, but I put on a 5" riser and relocation bracket from OLE's machine http://www.olesmachine.com/web/arcticcat.htm - Great product I would look at them also for a riser both amp and ole's are great products

Side panels- I went with the xxx mod rods http://xxxmodrods.com/_mgxroot/page_10790.html - great prices and also a good product, but they didnt have a template. All I did was marked where they had bracing with tape which worked well then used a 1.5" hole saw and cut out about 35 holes in each side leaving the bracing to rivet to

I wouldnt recommend cutting out the whole side panel like some do.. drilling them out keeps the strength there IMO

HAHA the skis- I wish I could use are the stock Iq gripper skis I had them on my assault last year and really like them Not sure if they would work but I may try

The one thing I would do is the wide diamond drive bearing... I am going to ride my first trip and then dump the oil and replace the bearing, also at least a shift assist to help with spring binding in backshift


I hope this helps ya out DOG!

 

[Dogmeat]

Who makes this "shift kit" for the diamond drive?

 

[montanasledder]

congrats on the new sled. The AMP 2 insh riser is perfect with them bars. I used BDX gears and geared down to 54/66. pulls hard. Also installed SLP pipe and airbox this summer. awsome boondocking chassis

 

[KSH]

Who makes this "shift kit" for the diamond drive?

This is one,

http://www.bikemanperformance.com/products/product_info.php?products_id=953

 

[crix]

Who makes this "shift kit" for the diamond drive?

If I remember right BDX has them and you can also get the wider bearing/ diamond drive fluid from them if you wanted to do it all at once

 

[crix]

From what I have read, if you have to add a fuel controller when you add the pipe, y-pipe and can, stay away from boondocker boxes.

my buddy has a full slp pipe and airbox no controller 2000 miles

 

[WYsteph]

Welcome! Now we just need to get you a gal and you will be all set.

To answer your question, powder pro's seem to be the ski of choice for the m's. But another option to consider is slydog powder hounds.

 

[mmsports]

Skies

I am a fan of the HCR. Mainly because they are still light like stock but more aggressive than stock but not to aggressive like all others they make my arms tired by end of Day.

On the dd bearing. I have only had 1 on an 09 go out and fully warranted my opinion not a worry but I would change it when I flushed it.

You must be a tall bugger if you need two more inches on the adjustable steering post.

 

[MUZBOMB]

This is one,

http://www.bikemanperformance.com/products/product_info.php?products_id=953

This is the shift assist i am running works great for me!!!

 

[ACMtnCat]

welcome. now learn how to spell Arctic Cat!

 

[1M800]

X2 on the goggle bag. You will always have a dry set of goggles. Powder Pros. You can lose some easy weight by getting rid of the suitcase muffler. I am very happy with my ceramic Super Q. Ice scratchers if you run any trails. Have fun!